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Woman Detained by ICE Despite Claiming She Was a U.S. Citizen
The story of a US citizen detained by ICE highlights the case of a woman who faced deportation proceedings for months.
By  Ernesto Iván Vargas Martínez
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Woman Detained by ICE Despite Claiming She Was a U.S. Citizen
Foto Sanabria & Associates.

Posted on06/08/26 at 13:28

  • US Citizen Detained by ICE
  • DHS Dropped Immigration Proceedings
  • Passport Confirmed Her Citizenship

The story of Dulce Consuelo Díaz Morales became a lengthy legal process after agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, detained her despite her saying she was a US citizen.

The detention occurred on December 14, 2025, in Baltimore.

Since then, she faced deportation proceedings that lasted several months and kept uncertainty about her future alive.

US Citizen Was Detained by ICE in Baltimore

Her sister Sirley said the two had just left a Taco Bell restaurant when the arrest occurred.

Sirley was driving the vehicle and, according to her account, Dulce was detained without receiving an explanation.

Although Dulce was released in January, the threat of deportation remained in effect for several months.

DHS Requested to Close the Immigration Case

On May 27, 2026, there was an important turn in the case, according to Univision.

The Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, filed a motion to dismiss with the Executive Office for Immigration Review in the deportation proceedings initiated against Dulce.

The woman was born in Laurel, Maryland, according to documentation submitted by her legal team.

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During the defense, attorneys submitted various pieces of evidence to support Dulce’s citizenship.

Among the documents was a Maryland birth certificate with a watermark issued by the Division of Vital Records.

Vaccination records issued by a Maryland county were also submitted, reflecting Dulce’s date of birth.

Despite this, the case moved forward for months while her immigration status was debated.

The Government Claimed She Was an Undocumented Immigrant

During the process, DHS maintained a position different from that presented by the defense.

In statements made last December, the agency said Dulce was an undocumented immigrant born in Mexico.

“Dulce Consuelo Madrigal Díaz is NOT a US citizen; she is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico,” DHS said.

The agency also claimed that she had not presented a valid US birth certificate or sufficient evidence to support her claim of citizenship.

Those statements contrasted with the documentation later submitted by the woman’s attorneys.

Passport Strengthens Her Citizenship Claim

On June 1, 2026, Dulce’s legal team confirmed that their client received a US passport.

The firm Sanabria & Associates considered this document the strongest proof of her citizenship.

“This is the most conclusive evidence that she, or anyone, can present to prove citizenship,” the firm said.

The attorneys emphasized that the passport only confirms a status that already existed previously.

However, the firm warned that the case may not be completely closed.

According to the attorneys, DHS agreed to close the process “without prejudice,” which would allow it to be reopened in the future.

“Dulce’s freedom has an asterisk,” the lawyers said in a statement.

The firm also said the government did not accept or resolve matters related to the truthfulness of Dulce’s birth.

In addition, the attorneys expressed concern over what they described as an “erosion of rights and safety” under President Donald Trump’s government.

For the defense, the case shows that even US citizens can face risks when their legal status is questioned.

“This case has clearly shown that a person’s legal status only remains intact until the government decides otherwise,” the firm added.

The attorneys said they will continue defending due process for both immigrants and US citizens.